Originally drafted out of Escambia High School by the Detroit Tigers in 1993, Coach Wade played one year at Jefferson Davis CC, competing in the NJCAA World Series. He subsequently played baseball at the University of Georgia from 1994-1996 while also playing with the champion Cotuit Kettleers team in the prestigous Cape Cod Baseball League. In 1996, he signed with the Minnesota Twins organization where he played for 2 1/2 years.

Following his time with the Twins, Chip served as an assistant coach under Bill Hamilton at Pensacola Junior College (now Pensacola State College).  During the 2000 season, he served as an assistant coach for the Texas/Louisiana Independent League's Alexandria Aces.  Chip returned to school in 2001 to earn a Master's Degree at the University of West Florida where he served as a volunteer assistant under Jim Spooner. Following West Florida, Chip earned a Ph.D. in Biomechanics from Auburn University (2004) and a Ph.D. in Finance from Ole Miss (2011).

Chip and his wife, Allison, reside in Oxford with their two sons, Ford (3) and Gibbs (4 months).